davelepka

That is really fast, and I know I can get a fair bit slower while tracking. I don't get it, this is their answer to the swooping problem? Is it just me, or does it seem like the guy who could out-swoop the old Cypres, would be the same sort of high time jumpers with the skills to under-track the new Cypress?

What a jackass. 3 miles sounds like he was clsoe, but the idea is to have a certain amount of reserve fuel left over when you land, anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes worth, depending on the pilot. If you're flying IFR, you're required to have a certain amount of reserve in case you get held up in traffic, weather or just lost in the coulds.

How many times have you pulled the handle on your current pack job? Are you sure that you won't have a hard pull? Is it possible that the situation leading to your need to pull the handle may create a hard pull? In any case, I can only imagine that my grip on a D ring will never be the limiting factor in how hard I can pull the handle. I can however, see my arms/chest applying more force that my hands can hold onto a pillow with. Not good. How about this for a procedure: Peel and punch this idea for a soft handle out of your head, and throw it away.

Was this shipped direct from PD, or through a dealer? If a dealer was involved, maybe they put the information in the box. A quick look at the PD website didn't turn up anything liek this, and I would guess if they came across a life threatening situaiton, it would be in big flashing text on their site. Also, I got two canopies from PD in the last month with all the 'use the right rubber bands' and 'freeflying is too fast for your canopy' flyers, but no anti F-111 stuff.

Seeing as your question has already been answered, maybe you can answer my question... What is wrong with a standard riser set-up that the reverse risers improves upon? I ask this with the understanding that non-reinforced mini risers are a thing of the past. The original idea with the reverse riser was that it was stronger as there was no grommet punched through the riser. This was developed in the wake of mini riser failures due to improper manufacturing, which has since been resloved with the RWS publication of construction standards and specs including the needed reinforcement.

If you spend time worrying about your example, that is detrimental, as your example is not a safe practice. You cannot spend enough time worrying about actual safety. For example, it is not safe to jump with your legstrap hardware improperly threaded. You should never reach the point where you don't worry about that. Never. There will be times where you'll need to take a chance on more flexible issues, such as canopy sizing. It's always the safer bet to stay on a bigger more conservative wing, but at some point, you will be ready to downsize to soemthing more fun. In these cases, the amount of worry that you put into it a personal decision. When YOU are ready, proceed forward. If you don't feel confident going in, it will effect your performance in your new endeavor.

Yeah. Get the longest AV cable you can find. You may have to use the Sony AV cable, with an adapter to a standard RCA cable to get one long enough. Now take masking tape, and make an X across your TV screen. You can go corner to corner on the frame so the tape doesn't stick to the glass. Plug the camera in to the TV, and turn it to camera mode. Now, when you point the camera at the screen, just line up the X's, and thats where you need to adjust your sight, or goggle dot to . It sounds a little funny, but you'll see how it works once it's all set up.

Aerodyne knows. Check the website. They probabaly have a shitload of other info on there you should know as well. If not, I'm sure they've got some pretty pictures.

Picture two is great. I like how the guy is doing the 'duck and cover' routine for the spring loaded PC. "What the hell is that thing? It jumped out of the rig and tried to bite me."

True. So true. The second time, however, isn't really that bad. Actually, it helps if you're wearing your sisters clothes at the time. It turns into a real bonding experience for the both of you. A good chance to have a Mentos, and give each other the thumbs up.

Just to be clear, I don't have a fear of jumping without an AAD. There are situations where it's not an applicable device. I do, however have an opposition to the "I'll just pull my handles" defence to not jumping one. Provided the context of your skydive or equipment allows for as AAD, there's no reason not jump one. There have been a good number of fatalities that could have been prevented had an AAD been present.

Again, what about airbags? If one of those fuckers fired on a busy freeway, that could cause a real problem, but most cars on the road have those. I've been jumping with a Cypres for 90% of my jumps, and it has been virtually invisible in it's operation. I take care of my end of the deal, as in slowing down before I get to 750 ft, and it take scare of it;s job, which is to do nothing in that case. Judging by your profile, I've been jumping twice as fast as you, and so for my safety record is 100%. Sidestepping a safety device due to your own ill-advised fears is not playing it safe.

Hasn't this question come up before? Anyway, I think there are two parts to this answer. First off, people lean forward in their harness during their turn because thats the direction they're flying, and it just makes sense. Any input to the harness you want to be of the forward/downward direction, so you can go faster, Coming out of a turn, pressing into the harness will help to pitch the canopy up, and provide some lift (aka distance) without any riser/toggel input. Once you are out of a turn, pushing forward will not produce any additional lift. You reach a point in your swoop where the pedulum effect of the turn on the pilot ceases, and this is th epoint where you need to pull on your straps or strings to make your canopy go further. At this point the poster who claims that only one connection point (in a front to back sense) makes pushing forward a fruitless persuit, would be correct. However, at this point, leaning forward takes on another purpose, (which was also mentioned) which is just weight distribution for using your flintstone brakes to help slow your canopy down. You need to have your feet out in front of you, so you can apply rearward pressure to slow down. You also want your upper body forward and over your feet, so you don;t get caught leaning way back and get too slow to pick you upright. The reason that guys do this during distance runs, or any time they're not sliding in ontheir feet is becasue they're used to it. You have to remember that a landign is a complex event, and it invloves two forms of canopy flight. The first, during the turn, is where the pilots momentum under the canopy is creating the change in the system. The parachute and pilt are out of balance during this time, and the canopy diving is it's attempt to regain the balance. This is the time where harness position will make a difference. Once you are you of the turn, during the swoop, the system has largely regained it's balance. The pilots position under the canopy is relatively stable. The changes needed are slight, and enacted with risers or toggles. During this time, harenss position isn't important. There are two answers to the question, beacsue there are two distinct flight modes present during a swoop landing.

What happened to 40 pack jobs before the inspection? The original post says it's only got 17 pack jobs on it. Many rigs are only packed one or twice per year, due to seasonal weather. Also, many rigs spend a few years in a closet before the owner realizes they're not going to jump again.

Have them ship it to PD for an inspection. If it passes, buy it. You've only got 23 reacks to go before PD wants to see it again. So if you keep your rig in date at all times, you'll have to send it in around the dawn of the next ice age. I'm sure you'll donwsize before then anyway.

Indded it was a typo. It should have said biplane.

..and think what would happen if he were to regain consiousness at, say, 300 ft.? With a Cypres, he could get a flare and a PLF. No Cypres, he's got a front row seat to the last show he'll ever see. To that end as well, the Cypres will increase you time to the ground, giving you even more time to wake up and land your reserve. I've heard many stories of guys either getting knocked out, or temp. dazed, only to wake up in freefall, and deploy their mains (at well above 750 ft). Again, if yu get knocked out, you'll come to eventually, and I'd much rather be under my 113, than two seconds from a dirt nap. However, if I do 'land' my 113 unconsious, that'll suck....

Sometimes, yes, and in those cases, by all means do not jump with an AAD. However, I don't believe that, "I'll just pull my handles myself" is a good reason not to jump one. Everyone plans on pulling their handles themselves, but history has shown it doesn't always work out like we plan.

On the handfull of occasions when I've pulled low (with an AAD), I've went with the, 'Keep an eye over your shoulder for the reserve PC' plan. Keep in mind that the main is already sniveling overhead, but my thinking is that if my Cypres fires, I'll shoot for the quick cutaway. I'd prefer to lose the main before the reserve can get up there to join it. I'm not a fan of the two-out, and I'm also not a fan of cutting away from a side by side or a downplane, as the main can catch the reserve as it goes by, nor am I a fan of inducing a downplane to separate them (and facilitate a clean cutaway) at 750 ft or less. I haven't fired a Cypres yet, so this is all speculation, but it's all I've got to go with at this point.

Modern AAD's have proven to be a no fault layer of safety for the vast majority of jumpers. Why is it a problem when a shortcoming is discovered, and folks would rather see a fix, as opposed to removing the AAD alltogether? For example, I have airbags in my car, however, I will still do all I can to avoid an accident. Am I dependant on the airbags? How about seatbelts for that matter, I drove around as a kid for years without a seatbelt (thanks mom and dad), but due to a better awareness of how much they can help, and seatbelt laws, I now wear mina all the time, and require my kids to do the same. Again, does any of this have an impact on my desire or ability to avoid an accident? Ignoring a safety device is stupid. It's not bold, or self-sufficient, it's stupid.

How about hooking it up as a main? You avoid possible loss of your main, or freebag, and you don't have to monkey around with a belly wart.

..or, replace "dropped it". with, "..pointed the nozzle the wrong way and glued my goggles to my face".

Here you go, how about this, demo the PD160R as a main for a few jumps. Get used to the 7 cell F111 flare, then demo the 143. If it feels good, buy one. Also, combining an intentional cutaway with your first jump on a canopy you have 'issues' with sounds dumb. It seems like too many new things at once, too much stress, and may find yourself overloaded, and your performance will suffer. Even though an actual cutaway will be more stressful, and then you still have to land the Raven, that may never happen, and forcing it to happen seems dumb (yeah, I already said it). You should feel confident with your equipment at all times. Even if that confidence is based on information and not experience, it will clear your mind to perform at your best when you need to. So jump the PDR's, buy a PDR, and don't pack like a retard so you never have to see your PDR again.

The motor will be able to apply waaay more torque to the thingy than you can with a pair of pliers jammed up in there. Wiggling the roof around is also a good idea. If the motor gets power, and still can't move it, try the wiggle thing when the motor has power as well.

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but none of your instructors have lost one minute of sleep over this. Chances are, to them you are just another student who may or may not still be jumping in two years, and the gear you are buying may or may not see the light of day there after. As for those who suggest you consider the qualifications of your instructors, and balance that against any advice you recieve here, they're idiots. The advice you are recieving here is erring on the side of caution, while your instructors are the ones pushing you toward a higher WL. I don't care if the advice is coming from a pile of dog shit, when it comes to skydiving, your best bet is always going with the more conservative approach. Period. You need to man up, and have some of your own convictions. Who cares what your instructors think? Will you care what they think if you are in the hospital? How about this, my general impression of skydiving in the UK is that the weather sucks, and you guys don't get in tons of jumps (crappy weather, small planes, few DZ's). Am I right? If so, how many jumps do you think you'll be making next year? The year after? Do either of those numbers suggest that you'l be progressing through canopy sizes quickly? All the more reason to have a conservative wing over your head. This whole situation is pretty fucked. You did well to change your order, and in truth, going with Aerodyne's reccomendation and getting a 210 isn't even a bad idea.